beyer M130 vs. M160 on guitar amps

[HockeyMike]

Is there a big difference in proximity effect between the hypercardioid M160 and the figure-8 M130? I got a 130 a few months ago... my first ribbon, love the sound, but I'm not having much luck on guitar cabs. Have tried putting it in front of a VOX AC30 and a Super Reverb, pretty clean tone without a ton of volume, but when the mic is closer than 4 or 5 feet away you can hear the ribbon "fart" a bit on the lows (doesn't happen when I roll off all the bass).

It's beautiful on cello and drum OH, but when Eddie Kramer raves about using beyers on guitar amps with people like Hendrix and Page, was it because the M160 is usable at a closer distance or was he placing it halfway across the room like I have to do with the M130?

[warhead]

Even the M160 can have issues with loud guitar cabs, you can hear the ribbon scraping up against the magnets at times. I've never bothered to throw the figure 8 M130 on a guitar cab but if you're having issues then it's obviously not working out. I have found that the Coles 4038 also cannot handle high volume cabs without distorting and breaking up.

The AEA stuff, Crowley & Tripp and others have no issue in front of loud cabs in my experience. My current go to ribbon on cabs is the sE Electronics R1 as it has more bite to the sound and requires less EQ during mixdown.

War

[tubedude]

Originally Posted by warhead

Even the M160 can have issues with loud guitar cabs, you can hear the ribbon scraping up against the magnets at times. I've never bothered to throw the figure 8 M130 on a guitar cab but if you're having issues then it's obviously not working out. I have found that the Coles 4038 also cannot handle high volume cabs without distorting and breaking up.

The AEA stuff, Crowley & Tripp and others have no issue in front of loud cabs in my experience. My current go to ribbon on cabs is the sE Electronics R1 as it has more bite to the sound and requires less EQ during mixdown.

War

Really? Isnt that a cheapie? Do you think you got a lucky good one or is the QC pretty good across the board? I stopped considering cheap ribbons years ago because of the QC and build issues, but maybe I should rethink. Have you ever used it beside a ROyer or Coles?
I'll do a search on it and check it out.

[warhead]

Originally Posted by tubedude

Really? Isnt that a cheapie? Do you think you got a lucky good one or is the QC pretty good across the board? I stopped considering cheap ribbons years ago because of the QC and build issues, but maybe I should rethink. Have you ever used it beside a ROyer or Coles?
I'll do a search on it and check it out.

It's not a cheapie in my opinion (don't know your definition of cheap) it's typical price is $849. The R1 has a great warranty (3 free re-ribbon jobs if needed for 5 years) and great sound and isn't just another rebranded cheap ribbon but a mic designed and built by sE Electronics at their factory. I've not used the Royer stuff in any situation where I could comment on it and have used the Coles 4038 but not side by side...although I can tell you that the 4038 can't handle what the R1 can handle on guitar cabs.

I personally own an AEA R84 also and the R1 outperforms it on close guitar cab mic'ing (and offers an altogether different sound so owning both of these mics complement each other well).

War

[HockeyMike]

Well, no budget left this year for more mics...anyone else have any experience with the M130 on guitar cabs?

[doorknocker]

Originally Posted by HockeyMike

It's beautiful on cello and drum OH, but when Eddie Kramer raves about using beyers on guitar amps with people like Hendrix and Page, was it because the M160 is usable at a closer distance or was he placing it halfway across the room like I have to do with the M130?

I don't know the M130 but I can tell you that I absolutely agree with Mr. Kramer: The M160 is unbelievable on guitar cabs, especially anything of the Marshall variety.

I go pretty close with my two M160s and am not afraid to turn it up. I surely don't want to do any unnecessary harm to the mic (I DO place it a tad further away than say a 57) but on the other hand these mics have long payed for themselves so if I might have to re-ribbon them after a few years, so be it.

I also love them on drum OHs and acoustic guitar (especially in combination with the Chandler LTD-1).

[turk sanchez]

I use my m160 all the time on gtr cabs...about 2 or 3 inches back...medium loud with no problems...I love 'em guitar amps...brighter than a 121 I think.

[David@MVS]

Originally Posted by warhead

It's not a cheapie in my opinion (don't know your definition of cheap) it's typical price is $849. The R1 has a great warranty (3 free re-ribbon jobs if needed for 5 years) and great sound and isn't just another rebranded cheap ribbon but a mic designed and built by sE Electronics at their factory.
War

Not to tangent too much....

Warren, wouldnt Royers 2 re-ribbon/lifetime seem like a better value than 3 re-ribbons/5 years.

Just curious as I know you sell gear, so you know that side of the business (and have access to way more than most).


Regards,
David

[warhead]

David, the Royer deal sure sounds fine to me. I am not a Royer dealer and wouldn't have had first hand knowledge of their warranty, as far as "better" goes it may or may not be depending on each person's wishes. I make no judgement call on that, and personally I've never blown a ribbon out!

Many people have and will.

I bought the R1 ribbon because it sounds fantastic.

War

[jrod9900]

I really want to try these. I've heard so many good things. I bought a set of Cascade FatHeads earlier this year, but I haven't gotten to use them on a finished track yet. I have been decently surprised on their quality for a $200 ribbon mic.

If anyone has any awesome info or tips for the Beyers, please share.

Thanks,

JROCK